REPUBLIC, Mo. — Republic scored six unanswered touchdowns on the way to spoiling first-year Neosho coach Brandon Taute’s debut as the Tigers earned a 47-12 win over the Wildcats on Friday to open the prep football season.
Republic (1-0, 1-0 COC) took the opening possession and used a 55-yard run from Connor Sandridge to set up a 4-yard touchdown from Avery Moody at the 10:31 mark of the opening quarter.
After the Wildcats (0-1, 0-1 COC) turned the ball over on downs near midfield on their opening possession, the Tigers answered back with a 6-yard touchdown run from Sandridge to build the lead to 12-0 with less than six minutes to play in the first quarter.
Republic had a pair of touchdowns called back because of penalties late in the first quarter before crossing the goal line for a third time in the first half on a 1-yard run from Kanon Krol with 8:05 to play in the first half, pushing the lead to 19-0.
Moody made the score 26-0 midway through the second quarter when he broke free for a 69-yard touchdown run.
The Tigers added a 22-yard touchdown run from Sandridge with 2:10 left in the first half to extend the Republic lead to 33-0.
Sandridge added another touchdown from 18-yards out with 3:04 left in the third quarter to make the score 40-0, starting the running clock.
Neosho got on the scoreboard for the first time in 2021 on a 19-yard touchdown run from running back Jared Siler with one minute to play in the third quarter to make the score 40-6.
Moody answered back with a 55-yard touchdown run on the next series to give Republic a 47-6 lead over the Wildcats.
Neosho added a score late when Evan Haskins found Isaiah Green on a fade pass to wrap the scoring.
The Wildcats host Webb City at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Week 2 matchup.
